For the past few years I have taken a group of students up to southwest Georgia for a tour of Andersonville and a visit to see Jimmy Carter teach an Sunday School lesson in his home church in Plains.
Naturally when Carter teaches his lesson there is a fair amount of security that you have to go through to get into the sanctuary. When I first went to see him teach I was more concerned about how intimidating the Secret Service would be, but they have nothing on Miss Jan who in her own frightening way explains the rules both inside and outside the sanctuary.
Once you are directed to a seat, Miss Jan then eyeballs everyone in the room and begins her 30 minute etiquette lesson on what to do and what not to do when President Carter enters the room. She icily explains when it is appropriate to take a picture and tells you what happens if you break the the rules, all with a kindly smile.
The one thing not to do when Miss Jan begins her talk is to not pay attention. If you are distracted by playing on your phone or chatting with your pew partner, she will call you out in front of everyone. On my most recent visit, she barked at a elderly man in the back, asking him if his hearing aid was on. Eventually he shouted back to her that he was saving his battery for Jimmy. Miss Jan was having none of it and told him to please turn it on and up through gritted teeth and a smile.
After she explains the rules, she will give small quiz and then repeat them again if we do not prove to be a "gifted class". Once completed she closes with a prayer and President Carter in introduced. He often either apologizes for Miss Jan or asks if we have been well briefed which always elicits a laughs from the congregation.
Yes, Miss Jan is a force to be dealt with but in the end she is obviously very kind and well meaning. After all these years, I am sure that she has witnessed some ridiculous behavior from visitors who lack common sense which explains her somewhat gruff demeanor.
I highly recommend making the trek out to Plains to experience President Carter teach. No matter what your religious beliefs or lack of, the opportunity to see and have such close access to a former president should not be passed up. Every time that I have been, I have been inspired by Carter's message. If and when you go, just be sure to give Miss Jan your undivided attention, otherwise she will call in her "friends" to deal with you. Trust me she will.
